DI Signal through SPDIF output too hot/distorted

Hey folks.

I've been trying to set up my Kemper for recording a processed signal and DI signal at the same time. I am using the Kemper via SPDIF into a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 and with Logic Pro 9.

I was hired to record the guitars for a friend's band, so I needed to set the KPA up in a way so I can hear a processed signal for monitoring while recording and for playback in my DAW, while simultaenously recording DI signals for the band to reamp later.

I got everything set up and it works, with the exception that the DI output is too hot. The input clean sense is set as low as it gets (I read in another thread that this can cause too hot of a DI output). The LED never flashes orange or even red, only green and yellow. The output LED even only lights up green at all times. I have the output set to Git / Stack and the processed signal sounds as always, while the DI is always too hot. It clips and sounds distorted. Even if I set the output to Git Studio, the DI signal is still too hot.

Am I missing something? Where else can I set up the output level of the DI when using SPDIF, so it's not too hot?

PS: Just to make sure, I updated the firmware. Now I was able to dial down the SPDIF volume in the output menu, but that only affects the processed signal. The DI signal is still too hot, clipping and sounds distorted. Does no one else have that problem?

Quote from Deadlightstudio

also with clean sense minimum?? damn..what kind of pickups?
strange situation..

Tweaking around with the clean sense doesn't appear to make any difference. The pickups are DiMarzio D Activators, so they are really hot. I have used way cheaper, plug-in modeling solutions in the past (like PODFarm) and never had an issue with DIs being too hot with those pickups. There's gotta be a way to fix this. I can't imagine that something as integral as that feature doesn't work properly.

By everything you're saying, I guess I have to try to mess with the clean sense again.

Quote from Deadlightstudio

I think there must be something different wrong, maybe in the focusrite mixer settings so that you amplify the DI maybe. Is the kemper inputlight green? That changes also using clean sense. If its green - than it must be something else

I actually talked to the Focusrite support today to make sure there was no way that this could happen. They said the only way to control the SPDIF level is in the output source, not the Saffire interface.

The Kemper input light is always green, doesn't even turn yellow. The output is always between green and yellow.

Quote from DonPetersen

Hi,

just making sure:

on the MixControl, SampleRate is set to 44.1kHz and Sync Source to SPDIF?

The SPDIF channel meters on the MixControl hit 'the top' and give you the red clipping signal?

Display More

Yep, that's how it's set up exactly. No red clipping signal on the mix control either.

Quote from Deadlightstudio

no clipping in the mixcontrol? Than its something in your Daw....

It's not clipping in the mix control, but it does go over 0. It's always between 0 and +6. My DAW has nothing on the channel, it simply gets the signal straight from the Saffire. The distorted channel doesn't appear to have that problem.

Quote from Lexa

Maybe the "Input Monitoring" in the logic channell? if that make sense..

It's turned off for those channels.

Quote from Deadlightstudio

if lowest clean sense does not help...does it help to lower the fader in the mix control?

Nope. It's just for monitoring anyways, isn't it? The input level doesn't change, no matter what I do with that fader.

Quote from Deadlightstudio

i never used that faders..i have a pro40 so almost similar

I have a Pro 40 in Germany but I'm currently at my girlfriend's house in the US, where I only have the Pro 24. I have talked to Hans-Joerg at the Kemper support and we're trying to figure out what the problem is, but haven't made much progress yet. It appears to be a problem that no one else ever had before, haha. If anything, people find the DI signal that's coming out of the KPA rather too low than too high.

By the way... I sent the DI track to the studio and they reamped it real quick. Note how it doesn't sound clean in the breaks at all... very weird:

http://www.soundcloud.com/sludgestudios/kpa-di-spdif/s-xn1JY